Variable-speed mechanism.



E. R. DRAVER.

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man FEB. 26, 1912.

- 1,215,506. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a .q/vi'tnunaea: 3i 3 duvcuhot iLttzzafi'iz'l H M Patnted Feb. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

E. R. D'RAVER.

VARIABLE-SPEED MECHANISM.

APP UCATION FILED FEB. 26, I912.

EMIL R. DRAVER, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

VARIABLE-SPEED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed February 26, 1912. Serial No. 679,895.

To all whom it Hi (11 concern Be it known that I. EMIL R. Dnavnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Richmond. in the county of Vayne and in the State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Variable-Speed Mechanism, of which the following is a full. clear. and comprehensive specification. being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

The object of my present invention, broadly speaking. is to provide a variable speed mechanism which will be strong and durable in construction. simple in all of its various parts, easily operated and controlled, positive in action. and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

A more particular object is to provide a mechanism by means of which various movements may be obtained from an unvarying source of power. the extent and the duration of such movements being under the control of the attendant by whom the various movements may be predetermined, the mechanism being adapted to maintain any desired movement without personal attention.

Another important object is to provide a mechanism wherein means are provided for operating the driven element at a certain rate of speed with relation to. the speed of the driving element, and means whereby after such rate of speed has been changed to cause the driven element to again operate at the first speed or at any 'other predetermined rate of speed within the liinits of the scale.

Other objects and particular advantages of my invention will be brought out and made apparent in the course of the specification, and that which is new will be defined in the appended claims.

The preferred manner for the accomplishment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front end elevation of'the mechanism, showing the same adjusted for making comparatively short/or slow movements of the driven element, as compared with thevdriving element.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism as arranged in Fig( 1.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the mechanism, showing the same parts as that shown in Fig. 1, but in this instance showing the adjustment for making comparatively long or fast movements of the driven element, as compared with the driving element.

And Fig. l is a plan view, partly in section as taken in the line -lof Fig. 3.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views of the two sheets of drawings.

In order that the construction and the operation of my inyention may be more fullv understood I will now take up a detailed exposition thereof, in which I will set forth the construction and the operation as briefly and as comprehensively as I may. 7

The frame of my mechanism comprises the two standards 1 and 2, each having a footplate. a and Z) respectively, adapted to rest on a floor or other surface to which they are adapted to be secured.

Boxings 1 and 2 are provided in the lower portions of the respective standards; and boxings 1" and 2"=are formed in the upper end of said standards, respectively.

Connecting the lower .portions of the standards is the I-shaped tie A. the ends of which are secured to the standards by the respective pairs of bolts (Z ande. Also connecting the standards. above the tie A, is the strut-bolt B.

Mounted horizontally in the boxings l and 2 is the driven or variable shaft 3. Secured on the rear end of the shaft 3 is the sprocket by which the variable power or speed developed by my mechanism may be transmitted to another mechanism, as a feeder for instance, however the sprocket -lmay be replaced by a pulley. or both the sprocket and the pulley ,may be dispensed with and the shaft 3 may be directly. connected to the shaft of a feeder or the like, or the shaft 3 may be extended to form the main shaft of a. feeder or other mechanism as desired.

Mounted horizontally in boxings l" and 2, is the driving shaft 5. same being adapted to be rotated by power at a continuous rate of speed. the power being applied through the pulley-wheel (S which is secured on said shaft and it is located between standards I and 2; however pulley (i may be replaced by a sprocket if desired. or the size thereof may be varied as desired.

Secured on the forward end of shaft 5, adjoining the forward face of the standard 1, is the crank-arm 7 in the offset or outer end of which is located the pivot 8 which is parallel with shaft 5. Extending upward and to the left from the boxing 1 and formed integral therewith, is the extension 9, and on the upper end of extension 9 is formed the boxing 10.

Numeral 11 denotes a pitman, the lower end of which is provided with the forward extending pivot 8.

Numeral 12 designates a graduated-arm, disposed edgewise, and carrying on its forward face a system of graduated marks, designated from 0 to 75, reading from left to right, however the graduating marks may be variously changed or others may be substituted.

Projecting back from the rear of arm 12, and located near the left-hand portion thereof, is the shoulder-12 which contacts with the boxing 10, as shown in Fig. 2. A pivot 13 is secured in said shoulder, concentric therewith, which extends back and is rotatably mounted in the boxing 10.

Extending back from the arm 12, a little to the right of the center thereof is the shorter shoulder 12, from which extends back the pivot 14, the latter being rotatably mounted in an eye formed in the upper end of the pitman. 11.

Slidably mounted on the arm 12 is the block 15. The block 15 being adapted to be located at any desired point along the arm 12, where it may be secured by the setscrew 16.

Extending out forward from the front of the block 15 is the pivot 17. Projecting down from the underside of block 15 is the ear 18 having an interior thread to receive the screw-shaft 19 therethrough. Secured on the left-hand end of screw-shaft 19 is the hand-Wheel 20. The left-hand end portion of screw-shaft 19 is revolubly mounted in the ear 21, which latter extends down from the left-hand end of the plate 12. The revolving of the screw-shaft 19, by means of the hand-wheel 20 is adapted to move the block 15 to-or-from the hand-wheel 20 and along the arm 12. Secured on the forward end of shaft 3, and located under the arm 12, is the comparatively large ratchet-wheel 22.

Numerals 23 and 24 denote two oppositely directed stirrups adapted to stride the ratchet-Wheel 22, but on opposite sides from each other. Both termini of each of said stirrups are pivoted around shaft 3, the end of each stirrup being located on opposite sides of the said ratchet-wheel, thereby the movements of sai stirrups will be concentric with the sha t 3 and with the ratchet wheel 22. Secured to the outer portions of the forward faces of each of the U-shaped stirrups 23 and 24 are the hangers 25 and 26,-respe'ctively. Extending forward and backward across through the loop portions of the stirrups, and through said hangers 25 and 26, are the respective pivot shafts 27 and 28.

Pivoted in the hangers 25 and 26, and on the respective pivot shafts 27 and 28, are the respective connecting-bars 29 and 30. The upper ends of said bars curve inward and then overlap each other, and they are both mounted concentrically on the pivot 17, above referred to.

Mounted on shaft 27, between the sides of the stirrup 23, are the two under-catch dogs 31 and 32, havingtail weights retain-.

ing their points in engagement with the teeth formed in the periphery of ratchetwheel 22.

Mounted on shaft 28, between the sides of stirrup 24, are the two over-catch dogs 33 and 34, having tail weights retaining their points in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 22, as above referred to.

The operation of my mechanism is substantially as follows:

The energizing force is transmitted through the driving shaft 5, which is to be revolved continuously and at a constant rate of speed, by power transmitted through the pulley 6.

Now if the block 15 be moved along on arm l2, by means of the screw-shaft 19 which is operable by the hand-wheel 20, until the said block is located opposite the pivot 13, for instance, which is the position shown in Fig. 1, then no motion will be imparted to shaft 3, for the reason that pivot 17 will then be concentric with the pivot 13, consequently the arms 29 and 30 will not be moved and therefore the ratchet will not be moved with relation to the ratchet-wheel 22. However as the shaft 5 revolves the plate 12 will be moved up and down, that is from one to the other of the two positions in which it is indicated by solid and by dotted lines in Fig. 1, for the reason that the pitman 11 is connected thereto at all times.

Now should the hand-wheel20 be turned, moving the block 15 to the right, then the pivot 17 will be moved to the right out of alinement with pivot 13, thereby resulting in the pivot 17 being moved up and down as the shaft 5 revolves. The amount of up and down movement given to pivot 17 will depend entirely upon the distance it is from alinement with the pivot 13, and on this depends the practical operation of my mechanism.

As pivot 17 is moved to the right out of alinement with pivot 13 then the driving element will cause it to be moved up and down, thereby moving the connecting-bars 29 and 30 up and down, and they in turn causing the dogs to engage to the ratchetwheel and turn it to the left regardless of the direction in which the shaft 5 is revolved. A I:

When the block 15 is moved to almost the extreme right, as in Fig. 3, then as the driving element revolves the connecting bars 29 and 30 will be given their maximum amount of movement, thereby causing the driven element to be moved .at its maximum speed.

The several dogs herein shown are arranged in the desired sequence to prevent back-lash of the ratchet-wheel,that is the position of the dogs are so timed that each space in the periphery of the ratchet-wheel is divided into infinitesimal portions whereby there will be no interim between the engagement of each of the dogs.

he two sets of'dogs are diametrically opposed to each other and they are arranged to act with perfect synchronism, alternately engaging the ratchet-wheel and moving it around each to the distance to which they have been geared.

In actual practice the mechanism herein shown may be secured to a floor while the machine to be operated thereby may be located elsewhere, and the connection therebetween may be made by a sprocket chain disposed around the sprocket-wheel e From the above it. is apparent that the machine to be operated by my mechanism may be caused to operate at either of a number of different rates, of speed, all of which depend upon the position of the block 15 upon the plate 12.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the several details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

Having now fully shown and described nismsubstantially as set forth, comprising a my invention and its operation What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, .'isl 1. A variable speed mechanism comprising a driving-shaft, a crank carried by said shaft, :1 pitman operableby the crank, a graduated scale-arm connected near its cen ter to said pitman, a stationary bearing to which one end of the scale-arm is pivoted, a block slidable on the scale-arm, a pivot extending out from the block and parallel with said shaft, :1 drivenshaft located parallel with the driving-shaft, a ratchet wheel secured onthc driven-shaft, a pair of diametrically opposed stirrups pivoted on the driven shaft and striding the periphery of the ratchetwheel, a plurality of ratchets mounted in eachof said stirrups and adapted to operate on opposite sides of the periphery of the ratchet wheel whereby the upward movement of one ratchet and the down ward movement of the other ratchet will tend to revolve the ratchet wheel and the any ofdriven shaft in one direction, a connecting bar extending from each stirrup and operatively connected with the pivot which is carried by the sliding block, and means whereby the sliding block may be moved manually along the length of the scale-arm while the mechanism is in operation in order to vary the ratio of speed of the driven shaft with relation to that of the driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. A variable speed mechanism comprising a stationary framehaving an upwardly projecting pivot-bearing extension, a graduated scale-arm pivoted near one end to said extension, a driving shaft mounted in the frame, a crank carried by the outer end of said shaft, a pitman operable by the crank and pivoted to the central portion of said scale-arm, a block slidable along the length of the scale-arm and carried thereby, a screw shaft for moving said block along the scale-arm and carried thereby and parallel therewith, means for manually revolving the screw shaft, a driven shaft located below and parallel with the drive shaft, a pair of oppositely disposed ratchets adapted to engage the periphery of the ratchet wheel on opposite sides of the center thereof, means whereby the ratchets are caused to swing concentric with the ratchet wheel including stirrups adapted to stride the ratchet wheel on opposite sides thereof and each being pivoted on the driven shaft, means for mounting the ratchets in the respective stirrups, a connecting bar extending upward from each of the stirrups, a pivot extending out from the sliding block, means for pivoting the upper ends of both of the connecting bars on the last mentioned pivot, all substantially as shown and described.

3. A self contained variable speed mechamain frame, a relatively stationary pivot carried by the main frame, a graduated arm pivoted at-one end on said pivot, a driving shaft carried in the said frame, a pitman operable by the driving shaft a second pivot extending back from said arm and to which the pitman is connected, a sliding block movable along the entire length of said arm, the rear portion of said block being open whereby the block may pass the pivots above mentioned, a forwardly extending pivot va-' 'ried by the block, the same being adapted to be brought into alinement with either thefirst or the second mentioned pivots, oppo sitely disposed arms mounted at their upper ends on the forwardly extending pivot, a shaft to be driven, a ratchet wheel secured on the last mentioned shaft, ratchets adapt- .ed to engage the periphery of the ratchet wheel, and means for connecting the ratchets to the respective arms to be raised and lowered thereby.

4. A self contained variable speed mechanism comprising a main frame, a driving shaftand a driven shaft carried thereby, a fixed pivot carried by the frame, a graduated arm pivoted at one end on said pivot, a second pivot extending back from said arm parallel with the first pivot and with said shafts, a pitman driven by the driving shaft and connected to the second pivot whereby as the driving shaft is rotated the free end of said arm will be given an upward and a downward movement at each revolution thereof, a block slidable along on said arm, the central portion of the back of said block being formed open whereby it may pass said pivots, a forwardly extending pivot carried by said block, arms independent of each other with their upper endspivoted on the forwardly extending pivot from which they extend divergently and downward, a ratchet wheel carried by the driven shaft, ratchets carried by the lower ends of said arms whereby said ratchets are adapted to operate alternately upon the ratchet wheel to rotate the driven shaft in one direction and at a rate of speed predetermined by the position of said block with relation to the graduated arm.

5. A self contained variable speed mechanism comprisinga frame, a fixed pivot carried by the frame, a graduated arm mounted at one end on said pivot and adapted to swing vertically, a sliding block mounted on said arm, means for retaining said block at any point along the length of said arm, a pivot carried by said block and adapted to be brought into alinement with the fixed pivot, a pair of oppositely disposed connecting arms having their upper ends journaled independently of each other on the pivot carried by the block, ratchets carried by the lower ends of said connecting arms, a ratchet wheel on which said ratchets operate to transmit intermittent rotary movement thereto with the rate of speed depending on the position of said block upon the graduated arm, and a shaft to which said ratchet wheel is connected, all substantially as shown and described,

6. A variable speed mechanism consisting of a driving element, a fixed pivot, an arm pivoted at one end to the fixed pivot, means connecting the arm and the driving element whereby said arm is given a constant oscillating movement vertically, a block slidable on said arm and formed to pass the pivots on which the arm is mounted, means for adjusting the block and retaining it at any point along, the length of the arm, a pair of connecting rods pivoted independently of each other on the pivot carried by the block, a driven shaft. a ratchet wheel secured on the driven shaft. ratchets carried by the lower ends of the connecting rods and adapted to impart rotary motion to the ratchet wheel on both the upper and the lower movements of said arm, and means whereby the sliding block may be brought to such position that the driven shaft may be stationary while the driving shaft is in operation, and for changing the position of said block to impart any degree of speed to the driven shaft without discontinuing the operation of the driving shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL R. DRAVER.

\Vitnesses R. E. RANDLE, Ron'r. W. RANDLE. 

